Bulgaria Sometimes Lacks Consistency in Reform - UK Ambassador

As a friend of Bulgaria, the United Kingdom sometimes tends to voice its disappointment with politics in the country, UK Ambassador to Sofia Emma Hopkins said on Wednesday.  

In her first TV interview since taking over the embassy, she warned Bulgaria sometimes lacks consistency with regard to reform.

Ms Hopkins is referring in particular to an anti-corruption bill which lawmakers from the ruling axis proclaimed as one of their key tools to help fight graft and enforce the rule of law, but which was turned down at a first reading in Parliament.

Earlier this month she was among the 14 foreign ambassadors to sign a letter urging the Bulgarian government to take more decisive steps in its fight against corruption.

Hopkins told public broadcaster BNT that reform is needed not because the EU demands it, but because it is necessary for Bulgaria's own development.

Part of the conversation was in Bulgarian, with Hopkins describing the language as a "direct one". In Bulgarian one has to say "Where is the post office?", while in Bulgarian the common wording would be "Excuse me, could you kindly tell me where the post office is?, she noted.

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